Chapter 1750
Winona pushed the car door open and stepped out. “Drive safe,” she told Keaton.
He nodded. “Yeah. Just… call me when you’ve made your decision p>
“Okay p>
After bidding Ridley goodbye, Keaton drove off. Winona watched his taillights disappear down the street, her brow furrowed in a heavy sigh. The estate’s security guards jogged over to relieve her of the heavy gift bags.
Ridley turned to her. “What exactly is going on between you two p>
“I already told you,” Winona said softly. “We got drunk, things happened, and now there’s a baby p>
“I’m not talking about the baby,” Ridley pressed. “I’m talking about you and Keaton. Didn’t you say there were no feelings between you p>
“There aren’t. Why p>
“Then why did he stand outside our estate walls all night p>
Winona froze, utterly stunned. “What do you mean, all night p>
“He showed up last night and stayed out there until morning,” Ridley explained. “A full night p>
Winona’s eyes widened. “Are you serious p>
Ridley pressed his lips together. “Of course I am. Why would I lie to you? The guards told me, and I even checked the security footage myself. He never left. He just stood there, staring up at your window. I had the guards clip the video and send it to you p>
“My phone is upstairs. I didn’t bring it down p>
“Well, you can watch it later,” Ridley said. “Right now, even our security guards are convinced you two are secretly dating p>
Her mind racing, Winona quickly tried to dismiss it. “We aren’t dating, so please don’t overthink things. I’m going back to my room to catch up on some sleep. You and Mom go ahead and eat. I’ll grab something whenever I wake up p>
She hurried toward the house without looking back. Ridley called after her, “You still haven’t told me what he wanted to talk about p>
“Nothing important!” Winona yelled over her shoulder.
“Slow down! You’re pregnant!” Ridley scolded.
Winona offered a dismissive murmur of agreement as she rushed up to her room. The first thing she did was grab her phone and pull up the security footage. It was exactly as her father had described. Keaton had arrived the previous evening and waited outside the walk occasionally stepping out of his car to smoke. She couldn’t blame the guards or her father for jumping to conclusions. The sight of Keaton leaning against his car, smoking quietly as he stared up at her bedroom window, was undeniably romantic.
Her heart raced as a wave of panic and confusion washed over her. She
immediately dialed Elysia.
“Elysia, are you busy right now p>
Elysia had just handed the kids over to Lowell for the morning school run. “Not at all. What’s wrong? Miss me p>
“I just sent you a video. Watch it first p>
Elysia clicked on the clip. A moment later, she gasped in surprise. “When was this? Last night p>
Winona’s voice-trembled with
emotion. “Yes. The guards and my dad already know. He stood outside my house for an entire night! Then he called me this morning to come down and talk. He actually offered to act as the baby’s father! He p>
Meanwhile, across town, Tarquin was fielding a call from Keaton. He stepped out
into the courtyard to take it.
The moment the line connected, Keaton blurted out, “Tell Elysia to talk some sense
into Winona. I’m stepping up to be the father of her kid p>
Tarquin paused. “Did something happen p>
Keaton didn’t hold back. “The
secret’s out. A bunch of gossips are
already whispering behind her back. That kid can’t grow up without dad, they be branded
illegitimate! If I claim the baby as
mine, I’d like to see who dares to talk trash about them!” Contént belongs
After a brief silence, Tarquin asked, “Have you discussed this with Winona p>
“Yeah, but she didn’t give me an answer. I don’t know if she’ll agree, so I need Elysia
to help me convince her. Tell her I have no ulterior motives. I just want to claim the
kid p>
Tarquin took a slow breath. “Are you really this deeply in love with her p>
For once, Keaton didn’t argue. His voice was muffled and heavy. “Right now? Yeah. But I don’t know about the future p>